HONOLULU – Governor Neil Abercrombie last week appointed Barry T. Mizuno to fill the Hawai'i County seat on the University of Hawai'i Board of Regents.

Mizuno, 63, is a former managing director to the County of Hawai'i (1990-1992). For the past 19 years, he has been in the geothermal power business (Puna Geothermal Venture) and a private energy consultant. Mizuno retired from Puna Geothermal Venture in 2006 to form BTM, LLC, a private energy consulting firm. His previous areas of employment also include Hamakua Sugar Company, Theo Davies and Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.

He is a certified accountant who serves on a number of community and professional organizations including: Hawai'i Society of Certified Public Accountants, Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Hawai'i Island Chamber of Commerce, Hawai'i Island Economic Development Board, Hawai'i Leeward Planning Conference, Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin, and Hawai'i Island Beacon Community, among others.

Mizuno earned his BA in business administration from Central Washington University. He is a graduate of Waimea High and Elementary School.

The UH Board of Regents formulates policy and oversees the university system through the university president. The board is composed of 15 regents, nominated by the Regents Candidate Advisory Council, appointed by governor and confirmed by the state Senate.

Mizuno will serve as interim regent until he is confirmed by the full Senate next session. The Senate successfully confirmed the governor’s earlier appointments of Coralie Matayoshi, Saedene Ota and Jan Sullivan.